The outcome (so far) of those policies is, however, one of the main areas of the fight between Bush and Kerry. It is expected the voters will use several parameters for evaluating the performance of the candidates in a more fair and constructive fashion.

In many senses, Bush is a tested case, Kerry is not. It appears Kerry has been attempting to build up his campaign momentum say, around the so-called 'failure' of those Bush's policies, he had endorsed previously. If Senator Kerry and for that matter the Democratic Party felt so genuinely about the 'failure' or the prospect of 'failure' (or both) of those policies prior to say, the campaign season, he and his party would have then taken or attempted to take, at least in the greater interest of the US and the people, some result-oriented measures for remedying the situation. Kerry and his party would have played a significant role in influencing the Bush Administration in a result-oriented manner during the time those policies were being processed for outcomes. Further, Kerry would have mobilised the opinion of the US people and others against the implementation modalities of those policies in an effective and visible manner. But all those and other things did not happen when they were expected to happen. As a result, many of the Kerry's vote attracting agenda are, in many senses, lack hard grounds. But the Senator is now busy in selling those agenda to the undecided voters prior to the US election. Will the voters buy them? Senator Kerry and President Bush should rely inter alia on their respective records while defending and promoting their performances and agenda. It would, in a practical sense and in fair terms, assist the voters in their vote related decisions.

The voters should be able to take into consideration the additional costs of managing the post 9/11 US -- especially in the areas, say: security, safety and well-being of the country and its people; geo-politics; economics, as well as economies; and external relations -- while taking the decision. They should also be able to consider inter alia the present day phenomenon of cyclic variations that is connected with the economic performance at local, national and global levels at any given time -- the causes, effects and causalities of those variations are yet to be internalised by say, the global economic management system in a productive manner -- in evaluating the country's economic performance in the post 9/11 era. Interesting though, both Bush and Kerry have almost no control over that phenomenon. Finally, it is hoped the poll results (both positive and negative) will not de-accelerate the current vote attracting efforts of President Bush, because those results could, inter alia and at times, be misleading and deceiving.

THE scientists at NASA in Washington have recently succeeded in measuring frame-dragging that is, the twisting of space-time caused by the spinning of the rotating Earth. The above direct measurement was the first of its kind, so far. Congratulations! The outcome of the effort of the scientists would hopefully be instrumental in freeing Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity from some of its current limitations arising out of say, 'approximations' in relevant areas. The measurement was done with the accuracy of millimeters. But proving the theory in a 'wholesome' manner would require several things. For example: the measurement needs to be done with an accuracy far beyond millimeters; and the determination of impacts of known and currently unknown variables on the measurement methods and processes.

BIMAN Bangladesh Airlines (hereinafter: the Biman) bought two 28 year old F-28s in May 2004 according to a recent report in one the English dailies of Bangladesh. They were bought reportedly against the backdrop of such facts as: they are known for recurring technical faults; the maintenance costs are high; the spare parts are not easily available; opposition from pilots of the Biman; and the risk factors associated with the passenger safety. The Biman authorities claimed the planes were suitable for short routes and affordable price-wise. The present situation is: one of the planes remains grounded at ZIA since July 2004; and the other one was recently declared abandoned by the insurance company concerned after the aircraft met a major accident at Sylhet airport. The events indicate inter alia: How faulty was the decision of the Biman concerning the purchase of those aircraft?

Now, some of the questions are: How could it happen when Bangladesh have reportedly been working hard for bringing about improvements in the key sectors of the national economy? What about the Biman's accountability to say, its customers and the people of Bangladesh? Who is or are responsible for the national wastage? What are their motive(s)? Who are the beneficiaries? I believe the matter should be thoroughly investigated and person(s) responsible identified and dealt with through due process of the law of the land.

Dr M S Haq is a freelance writer.